Air lifting and cleaning system



Oct. 21. 1924.I

J. OLIPHANT Al LIFTING AND QLEANING sYsTEM- Filed Aug. v. 1918 Patented Oct. 21, 1924. f

PATENT ori-uca.

Joan oLTrHANT,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COM- PANY, A CORPORATION F MASSACHUSETTS. v I

A1B. unirme AND camine .sYsTmL .Applicaties mea' August 7, 191s. serian 110.2483913.

To all wlw'm. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN OLIPHANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of 5 Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air Lifting and Cleaning Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, andJ exact specification.

My invention relates t0 air operated lifting and cleaning systems.

It has for its object to provide an improved air operated lifting and cleanin mechanism adapted to use in the lifting an cleaning of granular objects, and Aone especially adapted to use in connection with cleaning sugar beets prior to the delivery of the same to the crushing machines utilized in the conversion of the same into sugar.- More particularly, my invention has :for its object to provide improved means whereby the objects to be treatedare cleaned in 'an improved manner, im roved means whereby the cleansing flui may flow in a circuit, improved means whereby the, dirt removed from the objects is separated from the water so lthat the latter may be used' over again, and improved means whereby the system may be cleaned of granular ob `jects before shutting down and started with only a fluid flow until the desired. Huid velocity is obtained. These and other objects and advantages of'my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully ap ar.

t n the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. j

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially insee'- tion, showing my improved mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a .detail plan'view showin the se arating tanks for the cleansing iiui t, "i ig. 3 1s a detail view taken substantially 45 one line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the outlet for the granular objects. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing the nozzle of the auxiliary air jet taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Y

In this illustrative construction it will be noted that I have shown an air liftincluding a downwardly disposed pipe section 1 having fa U-section or elbow 2 at its base communicating with anl upwardly disposed elongated pipe section 3, air supjxlyimeg-55 means in the form of a main verticallydispipe 1 so that this member 6 is adapted to e5 l ,rece1ve the mixture of objectsV to be cleaned and the water, and direct theisame into the pipe 1 when an apertured valve or gate member 47 for the latter isin open. position.

It will also be observed that as the water 7o and granular objects pass down through the pipe 1 opposite the small auxiliary horizon tally disposed air inlet 5, they are initially acted upon by the air from thisjet in such a manner `as to remove some of the dirt or sediment therefrom. f Here it will -be noted that as in my impr ved construction lthis member 5 is rovided with a relatively wide or fan-sha e nozzle 8 of such form that it extends su stantially across the lowest point of the pipe 2, the air flowing from the member 5 is thereby caused to act more effectually, not only to agitate the water-and thereby initially cleanse the objects, but also to prevent, any settling of sediment whlch might otherwise occur 'in the bottom of the pipe-2. After the granular objects and water have passed this auxiliary jet 5, it will be noted that they are next acted upon by the main vertically disposed jet 4, which, as shown, is larger than the jet 5 and vertlcally disposed, so that the air therefrom may perform the heavy duty of llfting the granl'ular objects in the pipe' 3 and thoroughly lwashing the same. 'As shown herem, th1s 95 `l,jet 4 is providedwith a series of perforations 9 in its end in such a manner 'as to v enable the air to be broken up into small jets `and be thereb j :emulsion with t e water, of such a character formed into an effective as thorou hly to perform its lifting and cleansing Emotions. After the granular objects and water have been lifted into the pipe- 3 by the action of the air, 1t w111 be noted that the mixture is next deflected laterally, as through van expanding elbow 10 on the upper end of the 'plpe 3inA such a manner' as to deliver the mixture upon an mwater and granular objects are flowing over clined grating 11 havin a series of perforations 12 in its bottom. ere it will be noted, as .the granular objects roll out they strike a'transverseboard or obstruction 13 disposed at the lower end of the grating 11, and are deflected thereby laterally into a laterally disposed inclined outlet 14, while the water1 passes through the openings 12 onto a lower sloping an or trough 15 and iiows therein to latera ly branching pansl perforated at 17 and disposed over a series of slightly in-i clined sediment settling tanks 18 preferably having therein oppositely disposed transverse baille plates 19. It will also be noted thateach :of these tanks 18 is provided, herein at its rear end, with an outlet 20, preferabl disposed above the level of the lower ba es 19 and extending over a transversely disposed trou li 21 which in turn discharges into a centray located trough discharging into the rear end of the member 6.

In the operation of my improved construction, it will be observed that when the the member 6 and downgthrough the pipe 1, the auxiliary jet 5 will supply. a. small quantity of air into the elbow 2 in such a manner as initially to cleanse the'granular objects `and .to distribute the air so thoroughly across the bottom of the member 2 as to eep the latter clear of sediment. It will also be noted that after the mixture has been thus acted upon by the jet 5, the same will next be. acted upon by the air from the jet 4, which will then not only thoroughly cleanse the granular objects, but lift them/ to the expanding elbow 10, through which 'they are delivered upon the slopin grating 11. From thisgrating the granu ar objects will automatically pass by gravity into the trough y14, which in a beet andling mechanism may lead to the crushing mechanism. The water, on the .other hand, will pass through the perforations 12 in the gratinglll and iow down over a member 15 into the members 16, which are disposed over the tanks 18, and through the perforations 17 in these members 16, into maycontinue, thus enabling the pump to be cleared entirely of granular objects before the operation of the same is discontinued. It will also be noted that due to the provision of this member 7, it is possible to cut off the suppl of granular objects during the starting o the system by simply closing the member 7 and t us by enabllng the desired velocity of squid dow to be se cured before the granular objects are supplied thereto insure the most eflicient o eration of the system. If desired, by li ing the member 7 gradually relative to the mouth of the pipe 1, it will also be observed that the quantity of granular objects admitted to the pipe 1 may be further graduated ^as desired, 1n order to obtain a further increased elliciency in startin B the use of my improved construction, it w11l be observed that the liquid is pumped in,circuit and used over and over again to cleanse successive lots of ranular ob'ects, the latter being automatica y separate and the dirt also being automatically separated from the liquid by settling tanks while the liquid. is returned to the receiving member 6 after it has been cleaned. It will also be observed that in the use of this system it is onlynecessary for the granular objects to be cleaned to be delivered either by hand or automatically to the receiving member 6, the flow of water acting automatically with the other elements of my improved s stem to carry the granular objects througi the system and to clean and separate them, and cleanse the water and return it. In connection with my improved means fondelivering the air to the pump, it will be noted that the clogging of the latter is eiiciently prevented by the provision of the auxiliary jet 5 and the valve 7, and that the jet 5 and its fellow 4 cooperate efectually to clean the objects passing through the pump.

In connection with 'each of the jets 4 and 5, it will be noted that the same may be readily withdrawn when desired, as for instance by simply disconnecting them from the elbow 4 and withdrawing them from the tanks. 'lfhese tanks, being disposed atgsleeves 23 and 24, preferably formed on the an angle, will obviously permit of the free passage of the-water throu h the same, so that while the sediment wil settle and be retained in the tanks by the baiiies 19, the

water will flow out through the outlets '20 into the trough 21 and be delivered thereby through the trough 22 onto the mem-V ber 6. Obviously', in the use of my 'nnprovedk construction whendesired to finish up a given lot of granular objects or beets, this may be read;7ly accomplished by droppin the members into position over the mout of the pipe 1 at any time. When this occurs obviously, y.the further ow of objects to be cleansed will be prevented,

while atfthev same time-the flow of water elbow, to ywhich the jets are preferably removably attached by bolts 25 and 26. It will also be noted that access may also be had when desired to the elbow 2 through a suitable man-hole 27 located in the bottom of the elbow and likewise preferably removably attached thereto, as by means of bolts 28. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however,be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

ile I have in this a plication s ecifically described one embodiment1 whic m invention mav assume in practice, it w' l be understoo that this form is used for purposes of illustration only, and that the inventlon may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departi from its spirit or the scope of the appends claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cleansing system, air lift means for maintaining a continuous liquid cleansing circuit, and means for separating the cleaned objects and sediment therefrom.

2. Ina cleansing system, air lift operated means for maintaining a liquid cleansing circuit, and .constantly operative means for removing cleaned objects and sediment from the circuit whereby the operation of the cleaning system may be maintained continuous. 1

3. In a cleansing system, air lift inseaiis for maintaining a constantly moving liquid cleansing circuit and means for discontinuing at will the flow of ob'ects to. be cleaned through said circuit wit "out interrupting the latter comprising means interposable in the circuit.

4. In an air operated lifting and cleaning system, means for maintaining a lifting and cleansing liquid circuit, and automatically acting means for separatin the cleansed objects from the liquid an the sedi'inent from the latter.

5. In a cleansing system, means including an air lift pump for maintaining a liquid cleansing circuit, means for separating the cleansed objects therefrom, and means for controlling the -iiow of objects to be cleansed therethrough,\ comprising means interposable in the circuit.

6. 1F.n an a'ir lift system, downwardly and upwardly disposed pipes, an elbow operatively connecting the lower ends of the said pipes, a recei saine, `and an .air jet communicating with said pipes, said j^t ha a fan-shaped nlqpzle p aying across the` tom .of mid e ow.

7. In an air lift system, a cleansing fluid circulating system com rising upwardly and'dqwnwardly disp Y pipes operatively connected, an air jet openin into one" of mem r communi cating with one of sai pi and an apertured f valve controlling t e connection of said receiving member and pipe.

8. In an air lifting and cleaning system,

upwardly and downwardly disposed pipes, 1

an air jet opening into one of the same, a receiving member communicating with one of said pi s and means for interrupting the iiow ogg/objects to be cleansed through said ipe while permitting the iiow of liquid t erethrough.

9, In an air lifting and cleaning system, a continuous cleansing circuit comprising air lifting and cleaning mechanism, a settling tank receiving the sediment laden liquid therefrom, and means for returning the cleansed liquid from said tank to said mechanism.

10. In an air lifting and cleaning system, air lifting and cleaning mechanism, a liquid receiving trough having a lateral branch, a plurality of settling tanks receiving the liquid therefrom, and means for returning the liquid to said mechanism.

11. In an air lifting and cleaning upwardly and downwardly disposed pipes, an elbow operatively connecting the same,

a plurality of air jets opening into mid elbow and disposed substantially at right angles to one another, and means for removing said jts from said elbow at 12. In an air lifting and cleaning system, upwardly and dowwardl d pipes, an elbow operatively connecting the same, a pluralit of air jets opening into said elbow an disposed substantially at right angles to one another, means for removing said jets from said elbow at will, and sup-- plemen-tary means for providing access to said elbow.

13. In a cleaning system, means including an air lift pump for main a liquid cleansing circuit, and automati y acting sediment removing means included therein between the point of discharge therefrom of the objects cleaned and the point of. de-

livery thereto of the objects to be cleaned.

System, Y

14. In an air operated lifting and clean ing system, upvaiglyd and downwatilldly disposed pipes, ,a n connectin e saine alilia air nozzle ind alinei'ilit wit and c rgingmtosai rupw extending andasecondnozzlea' y Plpe the U-bend and adapted to discharge transvei'se to the end Yof said first named jet.

Intestimony whereof I ailix my signature.

Joliiir oniPHANrr. f

rranged tangential to j 

